Name/Title
New Guinean Spirit BoardEntry/Object ID
MK_0251Description
This oval wooden spirit board, is another remarkable example of the artistry and cultural heritage of Papua New Guinea's diverse peoples.
Thought to originate from the people of the Papuan Gulf Region, on the southern coast of New Guinea, this peice is carved in releif with a striking figure across its front, representing an ancestral spirit. Boards like this one were known variously as Gope, Hohoa or Kwoi, across the communities of the region, and were displayed in ceremonial men's houses. Their purpose was to offer protection to the housemen, anlongside offering ancestral support and guardianship during warfare.
Alongside the Mauna Kea's rich collection of New Guinean art and artefacts, this peice brings us yet another insight into the lives and beleif systems of those inhabiting another Pacific island across the seas.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel.Made/Created
Place
Region
Middle Sepik RegionCountry
New GuineaContinent
OceaniaDimensions
Height
52-3/4 inWidth
3 inLength
11 inLocation
* Untyped Location
1st Floor South EndFloor
1st FloorBuilding
Beach WingRoom
2nd Floor Art Storage Room* Untyped Location
2nd Floor Kohala EndFloor
2nd FloorBuilding
Beach WingRoom
Kamani RoomBuilding
HBR Main Tower